Coat-hanger



(No Model.)

B. M.VLINGOLN & A. SUMMERFIELD. COAT HANGER.

Patented Sept. 14,1897.

WIT 55555; yi/@ITD E. 20. ,22 Op n y Nrrn TATES MASSACHUSETTS.

COAT-HANG ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 589,901, dated September 14, 1897.

Application filed February 2, 1897. Serial No. 621,667. (No model.)

.To a/ZZ whom t 11i/cry concern;

Be it known that we, BENJAMIN M. LINCOLN and ABRAHAM SUMMnRF1ELD,citizns of the United States, residing in Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Coat-Hangers, of which the following is a specification.

This is an improved device for hanging coats and similar articles of apparel from a hook or other suitable support; audit relates to an improved construction whereby the device may be folded into a small compass and thus be easily transported or carried in an ordinary traveling-bag or in a pocket of a garment and spread into shape for use as a coathanger.

The nature of the invention is fully described below and villustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of our improved coat-hanger in position for use. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device closed or folded into asmall compass. Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3, Fig. 2.

Similar lettersof reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents a central supporting-frame consisting, preferably, of a plate bent into the parallel sides or folds Al and provided -with a central perforation in its upper portion at a. To this support A arms or stretchers are pivotally secured at o, the inner ends of said stretchers extending between the portions A of the support. Each of these stretchers consists of the inner arm B and the outer arm O, constituting a jointed stretcher whose parts are pivotally secured together at C near their upper edges, the lower edges abutting" against each other at D, so that the outer arm C is sustained in line with the inner arm B. These arms `are preferably metallic and are as light in weight as possible, the preferred construction being sheet metal formed into U shape in cross-section. A supporting-rod E is provided at its upper end with a`ring or equivalent device E', adapted to hang from a suitable hook, and this rodE extends down through the perforation o in the central support A, as shown. To the lower end of this rod are pivotally secured the inner ends of the two rods H, whose outer ends are pivoted at H within and to the U-shaped arms B, thus constituting a toggle.

When the hangeris in position for use, the ringE is suspended from the hook and the device assumes the position shown in Fig. l. The weight of the coat, distributed as. it is along the stretchers, prevents the device from folding up, inasmuch as such weight is supported by the rod E, whose lower end is thus pulling upward on the joint ofthe toggle H.

'Vhen the device is folded up into the position indicated in Fig. 3, the outer arms C fold up over and upon the inner arms B, the inner ends of the inner arms and the outer ends of the outer arms extending up into the support A. The U shape or channel shape of the arms B on their under sides allows the two parts of the toggle H to fold within them, while asthe two parts of the toggle itself are made U -shaped on their upper sides, as shown in Fig. 3, they fold together and around the rod E. Thus the entire device is folded into compact form and may be readily carried in the pocket, as its length when folded is only about one-fourth of its length when extended for use.

Having thus fully described ou r invention, what we cla-im, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A coat-hanger comprising acentralsupport; a pair of jointed stretchers adapted to fold back upon themselves and pivotally sccured at their inner ends to said support; a toggle extending from one stretcher to the other and pivotally secured to the under sides thereof; anda supporting-rod extending from `the joint of said toggle up through said central support and adapted to be suspended from a suitable hook, substantially as set forth; y

2. The herein-described improved collapsible coat-hanger, comprising a central support; the jointed stretchers, each consisting of the pivotally-connected arms B, C! and with their connected ends bearing against each other at D, said stretchers beingvpivotally secured at their inner ends to said support, and the inner arms B thereof being channeled on their under sides; the toggle H pivotally secured to said arms B within the IOO channels therein; and the rod E extending from the joint of said toggle up through said support and adapted to be suspended from a suitable hook, substantially as described.

3. The herein-described improved Collapsible coat-hanger, comprising the central support A formed with the substantially parallel sides A; the jointed stretehers B, C pivotally secured at their inner ends Within and to said central support, said stretehers being formed with channels on their under sides; the toggle H secured at its opposite ends to the stretehers Within their channels and formed with channels on its upper sides; and the rod E extending up from the joint of the toggle through the central support, the outer ends of the stretehers=being adapted to fold up into the central support when the device is closed, the toggle folding into the Channels of the stretehers and over the supportingrod, substantially as set forth.

BENJAMIN M. LINCOLN.

ABRAHAM SUMMERFIELD. Witnesses:

HENRY W. WILLIAMS, A. N. BONNEY. 

